Isaiah 35:1-10
Psalm 85:8-13
Luke 5:17-26
“The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus…” Isaiah 35:1
When I was young, and living in Calgary, we would begin to search, in earnest, for crocuses in early May. Though the happy and vibrant prairie crocuses sometimes did not appear until early June we were never daunted by our time memory, but more influenced by what I call our heavenly memory.
We know heavenly memory if we open ourselves to God’s promises and love. We can know heaven because God is present with us and deep within our spirit. Our faith life can nurture this memory. It is a memory that calls forward hope, peace, joy and love. Children are born remembering. Loved children can keep heavenly memory for a long time. We were loved children but still very tired of winter days. The first prairie crocus reminded us that change arrives and all things can be made new.
In the gospel Jesus is aware of the thoughts of the scribes and the Pharisees. He knows they are not open to God in their midst, with their heavenly memory dim. He knows they need to see amazing and marvelous signs to believe God will make all things new. Jesus heals someone physically. He provides a glorious time memory to become heavenly memory. Lives will be made anew, opening to love and forgiveness. It is as a crocus blossoming.
Joanne Davies
